At a recent European Commission-sponsored high level conference, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, commented that the EC wants practical, pragmatic suggestions for fighting the “modern-day highway robbery” known as piracy and counterfeiting. McCreevy stressed that more regulation is not the answer, and that solutions lie with public-private cooperation.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for free-market solutions and public/private cooperation.  But when it comes to counterfeit prescription medicines (aka:  International Health Care Terrorism) national and international law enforcement agencies as well as domestic criminal justice officials must engage in the debate.  And actively.  And immediately.

Only governments can put into place enhanced investigatory assets and harsher penalties.

Public/Private cooperation.  Certainly.  But only governments can catch and keep criminals in jail.

When it comes to discouraging international prescription drug counterfeiting, what we need is a more robust cell culture.